Bunch shaper for cigar machines



Sept. 24, 1929. J. F. HALSTEAD BUNCH SHAPER FOR CIGAR MACHINES Filed Aug. 31. 192a Fig.3.

ATTORNEY .;1.-

Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE JOHN FREDRIK HALSTEAD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL CIGAR MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY BUNCH SHALPER FOB- CIGAR MACHINES Application filed August 31, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in cigar bunch shapers, such for example as that disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,57 8,57 9, dated March 30, 1926, to WV. B. Bronander. More particularly it relates to mechanism designed to control the relative movement of the shaping members of a device of this sort, for the purpose of preventing sticking and resultant injury to the cigar bunch at the time the shapers are separated to release the bunch.

Hitherto, the cigar bunch was released by moving one shaping member in a straight line away from the bunch, thus parting from the bunch simultaneously around approximately one-half the circumference of the bunch. As a result, when the binder of the bunch was gummy, or for any other reason the bunch stuck to the shaping members, the bunch was at times torn apart. It is, therefore, the main object of the present invention to produce a bunch shaper in which there will be such a relative motion of the shaping members at the time of their separation to release the bunch, that the bunch will be sufficiently loosened from the shaping surfaces to prevent possible injury to the bunch.

With this and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference designate the same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved cigar bunch shaper;

Figs. 2 and 3 are similar elevations, show ing parts in different operating positions;

and

Fig. 4 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

In carrying the invention into effect, there is provided a plurality of oppositely disposed bunch shaping members, relatively movable toward one another into bunch shaping position together with means for simultaneously producing withdrawal of said oppositcly disposed members along angularly re- Serial No. 303,261.

lated paths in order to loosen the bunch from the members. In the best constructions, the bunch shaping members include a pair of oppositely disposed bunch shaping members and means for withdrawing one member of the pair from its bunch shaping position, together with means for simultaneously withdrawing the other member of said pair at an angle to the path of movement of the first mentioned member.

lVhile the invention, as shown, is applied to the shaper disclosed in the above mentioned patent, it should be understood that the in vention is not confined to use in this particular shaper. The means used to carry the invention into effect may be widely varied within the scope of the claims, since the particular machine selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, should not be restricted to the specific construction shown and described.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows the shaping members 15 and 15 in their closed or bunch shaping position. The head 14 of a post 13 carries the lower shaping members 15 which, as shown in Fig. 1, have just been raised by an operating link 19, by means of a pin 20 which is pushed up by the lower end of an elongated slot 19 in the end of operating link 19. The other end of the link 19 is pivotally connected at 22 to a pivoted actuator 9. At the proper time, the actuator 9 is rocked on its pivot 28, through suitable means forming no part of thepresent invention, from a moving part of the cigar machine. This rocking movement actuates the link 19, lowering the elongated slot 19 until the pin 20, projecting into the slot, engages with the set screw 19 Meanwhile, a roller 25 carried by a swinging bracket 17 carrying the upper shaping members, rolls on the circular cam surface" 24. and keeps said upper shaping members in closed bunch shaping position until the roller reaches the position shown in Fig. 2.

It will be seen that while the roller 25 travels on the cam face 24, the slot of link 19 slides on the pin 20 without effect and therefore the post 13 remains stationary, this post in the form shown being held in place by the friction of a plug pressed against it by a spring 4-1, as shown in Fig. 2.

The effective length of the link slot is so adjusted by set screw 19, that the pin 20 comes into engagement with this set screw at the moment that the roller runs off the circular cam face 24: and enters on the radial cam face 23. Due to this engagement of the set screw with the pin, the post 13 is then lowcred, thereby withdrawing the lower shaping members 15 downwardly from their bunch shaping position. Sin'iultaneous with this downward movement of the shaping members 15, the bracket 17 is swung outwardly as a result of the inward. radial motion of roller 25 along cam face L3, and this causes withdrawal of the upper shaping members 15 from their bunch shaping position in a direction which is approximately at right angles to the path of movement of the shapin members 15.

In order to make possible exact timing of the movement of one shaping member with q respect to the other, the cam 23 made angularly adjustable with reference to the actuator 9. This is accomplished by providingcam 232et which is loosely mounted on shaft 28 with a lug 14:, which is held between a pair of adjuster screws in the two arms of a yoke piece 46, which is fixedly mounted on shaft 28 and thus moves with the actuator 9, also fixedly mounted on said shaft 28. Chutes are attached to the sides of the head 1% to guide tobacco scraps cut off by the knives 29 of the conventional trimn'iers 30 and 31, into receptacles provided for this purpose.

It will be noted that due to the simultaneous withdrawal of the opposed shaping members along angularly related paths, that the movement of the tips of the shaping members 15 with respect to the bunch resting on the shaping members 15, will be the resultant of the rearward motion of members 15, as

shoi n1 at 43 in Fig. 3, and the downward motion of member 15. The effect of this resultant motion, diagrammatically shown at 4:2 in Fig. 3, is to cause the release of the bunch by a progressive motion of the shaping members,

so that they start opening on one side and gradually release around the circumference of the cigar and at the same time, due to the tips of members 15 drawing over the circumference of the bunch, a slight rolling action is imparted to thesame which also serves to break loose the cigarsfrom the shaping members. Thus, there will be no danger of the cigar'tips being torn apart by sticking to the opposite shaping members as they separate.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cigar bunch shaper, the combination of a plurality of oppositely disposed bunch shaping members relatively movable towards each other into bunch shaping position, and means for simultaneously producing relative withdrawing movement of said oppositely disposed members along angularly related paths in order to loosen the bunch from the members.

2. In a cigar bunch shaper, the combination with a pair of oppositely disposed bunch shaping members relatively movable towards each other into bunch shaping position, of means for withdrawing one member of the pair from said position, and mechanism for simultaneously withdrawing the other member of said pair along a path at an angle to the path of movement of the one member in order to loosen the bunch from the members.

3. In a cigar bunch shaper, the combination with a pair of oppositely disposed bunch shaping members relatively movable towards each. other into bunch shaping position, of means for withdrawing one member of the pair from said position, and mechanism for simultaneously withdrawing the other member of said pair along a path at an angle to the path of movement of the one member in order to loosen the bunch from the members, said mechanism including an adjustable operating connection between said means and said mechanism.

at. In a cigar bunch shaper, the combination with a pair of oppositely disposed bunch shaping members relatively movable towards each other into bunch shaping position, of means for withdrawing one member of the pair from said position, and mechanism for simultaneously withdrawing the other member of said pair along a path approximately at right angles to the path of movement of the one member in order to loosen the bunch from the members.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN FREDRIK HALSTEAD.

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